Archive for August 9th, 2012

Exclusive report from Rakhine state exposes an entire region divided by religious and racial discrimination.

A recent journey to western Myanmar has revealed a provincial capital divided by hatred and thousands of its Muslim residents terrorised by what they say is a state-sponsored campaign to segregate the population along ethno-sectarian lines.

Very urgent SOS message to save the 7000 Muslims lives and properties from Sittwe, Rakhine.

Just a few moments ago we got the urgent message from Sittwe.
The last Muslim quarter in Sittwe, Aung Mingalar is marked, targeted and surrounded to be destroyed tonight.

According to the informer, Rakhine Government has already given the approval for that raid. Cries and chaotic voices were heard during the phone conversation.

In the last Muslim settlement of Aung Mingalar, 7000 strong Muslims came out from their houses and are appealing to the Myanmar Military, Rakhine Government and Rakhine Buddhist people who surrounded them to allow them to transfer out peacefully. They pleaded that they would voluntarily transfer to any place the mob wants so that there would be no human casualties.

According to the person on the phone, even if they all are murdered, they wish the world to know that Myanmar Military is leading the massacre. He nervously ask us to publish this before the massacre starts.

Much has been made of the recent sectarian unrest in western Burma and its ramifications for the country’s fragile reform process. It’s important to note that the violence and subsequent outpouring of anti-Rohingya anger is not a niche issue confined to a specific locale – instead it should be viewed as something more pervasive among many Burman and Arakanese, both inside Burma and abroad, that threatens to contaminate the wider discourse on how to move the country forward.

For Buddhists and Muslims who live and co-exist in Burma, the recent outbreak of sectarian violence in Arakan State is nothing new. The profound fear that many feel, however, is that this won’t be the last time that these two communities are torn apart by strife.